February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Dr. Gerald Tadej and his team of professionals at Tadej Orthodontics would like to take this opportunity to remind our patients and their families that February is National Children's Dental Health Month. During this month, dental and orthodontic professionals across the country have been busy increasing awareness about the importance of good dental health in children by sharing information and tips with families about how to ensure that children’s smiles are as healthy as possible through preventative dentistry measures. This month is a great time to offer parents advice to help them teach their children about the importance of taking good care of the smiles so that they have long-lasting, healthy smiles throughout their lives.

In honor of this important month, Dr. Tadej would like to tell parents that now is a great time to bring your child in for an orthodontic exam. This way, if there is an issue that needs attention, we can identify it and then develop an appropriate treatment plan that can begin now or later when the time is more optimal. Dr. Tadej is specially trained to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.

Importance of Early Orthodontic Treatment

The American Association of Orthodontists or AAO recommends that children receive their first orthodontic visit by age 7. This is because by this age, an orthodontist can identify any problems, which may be present with the jaws or teeth. Early treatment can prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at an older age shorter and less costly. And, in some cases, the orthodontist can achieve results, which may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.

Waiting until your child has all of his or her permanent teeth or until his or her facial growth is nearly complete may make the correction of some problems more difficult to treat. And, even though your child's teeth may look straight to you, there could be problems present that only an orthodontist can detect. Of course, the examination could show that your child's teeth and bite are fine and if that's the case, it's great news indeed!

Here are 7 Warning Signs to watch For in Children 7 Years of Age Which May Indicate that Orthodontic Treatment is Necessary:

Protruding upper teeth is the most common orthodontic problem.

A deep bite wherein the upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth too much.

An underbite wherein the two upper teeth fit inside the arch of the lower teeth.

An open bite wherein the child can stick his/her tongue between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together.

Crowded and overlapped teeth or noticeably large gaps between teeth.

Misaligned front teeth.

Crossbite wherein the upper back teeth fit inside rather than outside the lower teeth.

If you notice any of the above in your child, please feel free to call our office to schedule an appointment with us. Dr. Tadej will provide your child with a comprehensive examination to see if there is a problem that orthodontic treatment can address.

Children Currently In Braces
For kids currently wearing braces, brushing and flossing can require extra time and effort to remove food particles that accrue on and between your teeth and braces. If you ignore your oral health during your treatment, the results can be significantly compromised. We are happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is so critical during orthodontic treatment. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call or ask us at your next adjustment appointment!

Our office is proud to help patients in the surrounding areas of Kern County including Bakersfield, Tehachapi, Taft, Delano, Wasco and Shafter, CA.

Tadej Orthodontics
8625 Liberty Park Drive, Suite 101
Bakersfield, CA 93311
Phone: (661) 322-2263

http://www.tadejorthodontics.com